THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS
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| Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews |
It’s a big weekend of sports in my world coming up, so here are some thoughts on the days to come:
1) The Regina Pats are 3-0 in the preseason heading into a home and home weekend with the Brandon Wheat Kings which starts Friday on the road. The team has looked promising in the opening three games. Chase Harrison and Austin Wagner have come back looking much improved. I really like Russian defenceman Sergey Zborovsky and what he has done in the early going.
2) There are four 16 year olds still with the Pats heading into the final two weeks of the preseason. They are forwards Sam Steel, Jacob Elmer, Luc Smith and defenceman Ryan Krushen. Steel has put up 7 points in two preseason games and has looked beyond his years. Jacob Elmer has scored twice in two games-played, Luc Smith has an assist and showed off his physicality in his lone game of the preseason. Krushen has an assist and is a plus three in 2 gamesplayed. Senior VP and Head Coach John Paddock said on Tuesday that Sam Steel will make the team and that all four guys look capable of playing in the league this year. Whether or not that happens is yet to be seen.
3) The Pats’ defence corps are pretty well set as of right now in terms of numbers. Kyle Burroughs, Colby Williams, Chase Harrison, Brady Reagan, Isaac Schacher, James Hilsendager, Sergey Zborovsky and Ryan Krushen. That makes eight with Carter Hansen practicing as a defenceman this week which makes the possibility of night. Kyle Burroughs could miss the start of the season at the New York Islanders training camp so I doubt there will be any defencemen cut before the regular season starts, if at all. Barring a trade of course.
4) There are eight forwards with the Pats that were not on the team last year. That’s where the competition is at its highest with the team. Darcy DeRoose (19), Luc Smith (16), Kyle Westeringh (18), Jared McAmmond (17), Rykr Cole (17), Dane Schioler (18), Colton Kroeker (17) and Jacob Elmer (16) are all looking to among the new faces in 2014/15. There are 12 returning forwards including Sam Steel who spent the end of last year with the club. In years past the team kept 14 or 15 forwards once the season gt underway. Some very tough decisions ahead. I’m glad I’m not the one making them.
5) The goaltending battle is between Daniel Wapple, Dawson MacAuley and Tyler Fuhr. My guess is that Fuhr will be the back-up with either Wapple of MacAuley as the starter. The remainder of the preseason and likely the start of the regular season will determine that.
6) The Pats are going to play with a lot of speed this year if practice is any indication.
7) On to football, the Regina Thunder are back at it this weekend after their bye week. They will play the Hilltops for the second time, this one on the road in Saskatoon. The game is Saturday night at 7:00. The Thunder are looking to make it four straight wins over their provincial rivals dating back to last year. Two of those wins came on the road. A big game for both teams who sit 1-1 on the year. The Thunder are ranked 3rd in Canada while the Hilltops are 5th.
8) No word yet on if Jaeden Marwick or Spencer Mack will start at QB on Saturday for the Thunder. Marwick suffered an injury late against Edmonton in Week 2 and did not return.
9) The Thunder seem to have found a star in running back Colton Klassen. The rookie out of Saskatoon ran for 80 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in just a half of work.
10) What a win for the Riders in Labour Day Classic 48. That was by far the best game in the CFL so far this season in my opinion. Hopefully the Banjo Bowl brings that same excitement. Will be tough to beat the Bombers three times but the Riders are playing great football.
11) Loved the ovation for Weston Dressler on Sunday. He looked good in his return to the CFL. It’s really cool to see him back in Green and White.
12) The Riders have won 6 in a row but sit 2 points back of Calgary for tops in the West. I can’t wait until the Riders start playing the Stampeders and Eskimos as the season goes on. Hard to say which team is best in the CFL when they haven’t played each other.
13) The NFL season kicks off with a dandy Thursday night as the Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers. Scruffy and I have been at odds all week as our respective teams are playing in the game. If the Packers lose Friday it will not be a fun day here at Harvard Broadcasting. I’m confident though that Aaron Rodgers will come through. Madden did pick the Packers to be in the Super Bowl after all. Like that matters.
14) Too bad seeing Canadians Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard bounced from the US Open on Monday. I want to see both win a grand slam one day.
15) Only 28 days to the start of the NHL season!!!
That’s it from me today, have a great week.
Phil
@PhilTheThrill18
(For sponsorship opportunities for the Wednesday Thriller, email ridervoice@yahoo.ca)
What's with Paddock? Last week he says on Phil's pre-game show that he would have dressed a younger lineup if he'd known what Moose Jaw was dressing. Then on the Cage yesterday he said he didn't say that. What's he trying to pull?
MERV
I realize it's early, and Paddock is new but wow does he ever sound ( on the radio at least) like he either doesn't want to be here or simply isn't interested in speaking to the media here. Rod welcomed him on the show yesterday and then Paddock comes across like a piece of wood. I give Rod full props for trying to keep the excitement up in that interview.
Freddie Shack
Coach Paddock needs to be sent to the Eric Tillman School of Media Relations!
he is not here to do good interviews…..
Who cares about Paddock's media skills. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. This guy has been in the show, don't worry about how he interviews or what he says to the media, its what he does behind closed doors that will show what kind of guy and coach he is. On a separate note…Sam Steel….WOW….. lets not forget this guy was injured for a lot of the season last year and won't hit his full stride or get his true timing back for a while yet. He is going to be a beauty to watch the next 2 plus… Read more »
Having not had the pleasure of watching Steel yet who can he be compared to? What style does he play?
Rod's been calling him a "young Glenn Anderson" for two years. Can't say I disagree.
S. Palin
Interesting. Thanks. We havent had the best teams to watch these past few years but we have been fortunate to watch some extreemly talented players!
I dont know who I would compare him to yet, need to see a lot more and let him get acclimated to the league and his teammates a little longer but he's one of those guys that the puck follows everywhere. Sometimes it's like "come on, why is he even standing there, must have just got lucky" , then it keeps happening. lolIt looks to me like we haven't seen his speed yet as he is usually a couple steps ahead of the play so hasn't had to turn up the pace 100% yet. The upside to this kid looks… Read more »
To the Anderson comment… I would say Steel has better offensive upside by far, but now we are comparing a modern day 16 year old to a man from the 80's style game who was an NHL'er. It's hard to do for me, he is fast yes….I would say he's the most like Sam Steel so far. lol I would just trust Rod's comparison for now as he get's insider info from one of the best scouts this area has ever seen!!!!
#cheater
#lol
#NewSteelTown
John has the respect of the boys, that's all that matters. I like the fact he's a straight shooter and tells it the way it is. No more BS from the Pats. Tell us the way it is and go win!
Was told today the players are now training with Dan Farthing at level 10 in addition to their efforts with the Pats trainer Greg. If true, this is awesome. Total commitment from team for players to be at a peak fitness level. Go kick the sh!t out of Brandon now.
Rumour has it the Pats felt they wanted to win that first exhibition game SO badly, they didn't care if they had an older squad in the "rookie game". If I were the Warriors I'd be a bit pissed, but whatever.
Dylan